Partner Bethany Stevens represents start-ups, mid-size
companies, and global brands in the retail, fashion, lifestyle, fitness, and
technology industries. Clients turn to Bethany for advice regarding their
corporate structuring and compliance, contract negotiations and licensing
agreements, broad-based brand and intellectual property portfolio management,
as well as complex business and intellectual property disputes.
Prior to founding WSC, Bethany was Counsel in WilmerHale’s
Intellectual Property Litigation practice group, where she represented some of
the world’s largest technology companies in significant patent infringement
disputes involving smartphones, Wi-Fi chips, and an array of other
industry-leading technologies.
She serves on the Board of Trustees for the Epilepsy
Foundation of Greater Los Angeles and is a member of the International
Trademark Association, Los Angeles Chapter of Ellevate Network, and UCLA Law
Women LEAD. She has presented to various groups regarding issues facing small
and emerging businesses, and has co-authored articles appearing in Los Angeles
Lawyer Magazine and Competition: The Journal of the Antitrust and Unfair
Competition Law Section of the State Bar of California.
Bethany graduated magna cum laude from Ohio State
University, where she was a Medalist scholar. She earned her J.D. from the
University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. At UCLA, Bethany completed
externships with the Honorable Laurie Zelon of the California Court of Appeal,
Second District, and with the Children’s Law Center of Los Angeles.
Intellectual Property
and Brand Protection
Bethany develops, manages, and protects the domestic and
international intellectual property portfolios of many innovative brands across
industries to ensure they have appropriate and valuable intellectual property
protections in place, and to leverage their IP assets in connection with a
broad range of transactions. In this capacity, she regularly advises clients
regarding their trademarks, copyrights, patents, and trade secrets, as well as
related transactions and disputes.
Bethany also devises and implements comprehensive,
personalized strategies for her clients to protect their brand integrity and to
stop fraud and brand dilution. Such strategies often include efforts to halt
the importation and sale of counterfeit goods, to liaise with and support
branding, marketing, and advertising teams, and to monitor and enforce
intellectual property rights against would-be infringers throughout the world.
Calling upon her extensive litigation experience, Bethany also represents
clients in intellectual property disputes, including in matters in state and
federal court and before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and
Trademark Trial and Appeals Board.
Litigation
Bethany has broad litigation experience in state and federal
courts in matters involving intellectual property infringement, general
commercial and contract disputes, state and federal antitrust claims, and
business torts, such as false advertising and unfair competition. She
represents clients in all phases of litigation, from pre-suit investigation through
to resolution. Bethany effectively advocates for informal and creative
pre-litigation resolutions when possible, and vigorously pursues litigation
when avoidance isn’t an option, all while mitigating the risk to her clients.
Corporate Counseling
Bethany handles all aspects of business formation and
governance, and advises regarding compliance obligations and best practices,
including with respect to data privacy and protection. She also drafts,
negotiates, and advises regarding commercial contracts and agreements, and
performs audits and due diligence to support the same. Above all, she best
positions her clients to focus on what’s important – growing their businesses,
securing customers, and mitigating risk.
Giving Back
Bethany serves on the Board of Trustees for the Epilepsy
Foundation of Greater Los Angeles and counsels the organization on intellectual
property and branding matters. The Foundation shares the nationwide mission and
focuses on leading the fight to end epilepsy – their vision and call to action.
Bethany also partners with the Los Angeles Cleantech
Incubator (LACI) at the La Kretz Innovation Campus and provides office hours to
companies driving the innovation and growth of Los Angeles’ green economy.
Prior Affiliations
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP
Heller Ehrman LLP
Community Activities
Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles, Board of
Trustees
Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law Association, Member
